The Most Beautiful Pink Sand Beaches in the World

What makes a pink sand beach—a million pieces of shattered coral? A trick of the eye and the light? On Harbour Island in the Bahamas—one of the most famous beaches pictured here—the pink hue comes from foraminifera, a microscopic organism that actually has a reddish-pink shell, while the sand is a mix of coral, shells, and calcium carbonate. It sounds like a science project, but in truth, it's one of the most magical things we've seen. Here, nine places around the world with some of the most beautiful pink sand.

This gallery was originally published in 2016. It has been updated with new information.

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Elafonisi Beach, Crete, Greece

Elafonisi has the amenities of a popular vacation beach (parking lot, nearby bathrooms) but the feel of a remote oasis, thanks to its location removed from major cities. After swimming in the shallow waters, walk across the sandbar to snap some photos of wildflowers and rock formations—that's if you haven't filled your camera roll with shots of the pink-hued shore, of course.

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Playa de Ses Illetes, Formentera, Spain

Formentera is a less-crowded alternative to nearby Ibiza, and Playa de Ses Illetes is its most fashionable beach (just check out designer Laura Ferrara's guide for proof). For a full day, share some rosy sand with yacht-owning vacationers, then enjoy a plate of fish at one of the island's glitzy restaurants. Try Ca Na Pepa for Italian (a 15-minute drive from the beach), or Can Dani, the only Michelin-starred restaurant on Formentera.

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Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

Even if you have access to the private beaches next to Horseshoe Bay, you'll probably migrate over for a day, drawn by its contrasts: the blush pink sand and turquoise water, ideal for snorkeling.

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Crane Beach, Barbados

Located on the rugged east coast of Barbados, the pink shoreline of Crane Beach is flanked by lush vegetation and turquoise waters. The beach is known for its boogieboard-ready waves, and luxe hotels where you can dry off after pulling yourself out of your beach chair. (We're particular fans of The Crane, one of the oldest operating hotels in the Caribbean.)

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Balos Bay, Crete, Greece

Easily one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece, Balos Bay stuns with pinkish-white sands and shallow pools of bright blue saltwater. And if you're in the market for a honeymoon destination, you'll be following in the royal footsteps of Prince Charles and Princess Diana—they reportedly visited this spot after their 1981 wedding.

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Spiaggia Rosa, Budelli, Sardinia

Spiaggia Rosa is not exactly an under-the-radar gem: Back in 1994, the Italian government had to permanently close the site off to visitors, due to the crowds disturbing the coral beach. You can still admire the iconic shore from neighboring Spiaggia di Cavalieri, or follow the Instagram account of Michele Ardu, Budelli's sole resident and caretaker.

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Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas

You can't think of pink beaches without thinking of Harbour Island. This Instagram darling draws crowds for its colorful sand, sure, but also for its swimmable water, colonial cottages, and excellent restaurants within the vicinity.

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Pink Beach, Komodo, Indonesia

As if catching a glimpse of the island's eponymous dragons wasn't reason enough to visit, Komodo also happens to have one seriously beautiful pink beach. Between the coral-lined waters and bright green hills rolling in the distance, you're not likely to find another vacation spot quite this scenic. The waters are safe for swimming and snorkeling, but just use common sense (i.e. if you see a Komodo dragon, um, stay away).

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Elbow Beach, Bermuda

Despite its stunning appearance, Elbow Beach is much quieter than other popular beaches on Bermuda. Translation: That means you can snorkel around the off-shore shipwrecks and lounge on the coral-colored sand without bumping into too many other tourists.